Mike Calvin's predictions for the 2012-13 football season

Expert Opinion

15Aug

Mike Calvin’s predictions for the 2012-13 football season

by Mike Calvin

It’s that time of year again. It’s the moment a humble scribbler places his or her neck on the executioner’s block and hopes that not too much blood will flow. Here is my guide to the new season’s winners and losers, with a special mention of a team to watch in all four divisions.

Premier League predictions:

Top four (in order): Manchester City (champions), Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United

Relegated: West Brom, West Ham, Southampton

Team to watch: Arsenal

It’s payback time. Arsenal fans, who never tire of reminding us they pay top dollar, deserve a trophy for their patience. Arsène Wenger has bought well in the transfer market, retaining his equilibrium despite being held to ransom by Robin van Persie. The promotion of Steve Bould to first-team coach should improve defensive discipline, but the prevalence of injuries remains a worry. Third again in the league, but a cup to compensate.

Championship predictions:

Promoted (in order): Bolton (champions), Middlesbrough, Cardiff

Relegated: Crystal Palace, Charlton, Barnsley

Team to watch: Blackburn

The lunatics are still running the asylum at Blackburn. Money seems to be no object – new signings on £30,000 a week are apparently the norm – but class and common sense cannot be purchased. The farce that led to so-called global adviser Shebby Singh, a former TV pundit, apologising to manager Steve Kean and the “past his sell-by date” Morten Gamst Pedersen does not augur well.

League One predictions:

Promoted (in order): Preston (champions), Swindon, Bournemouth

Relegated: Walsall, Portsmouth, Bury, Hartlepool

Team to watch: Preston

Graham Westley has stolen My Way from Frank Sinatra as his signature song. He has decimated last season’s squad, which baulked at his distinctive 9-5 training regime. Unwanted stragglers are training on their own, excluded from a group of 13 new players signed by the end of May. There’s no middle ground: it could be a disaster, but might very well be one of the success stories of the season.

League Two predictions:

Promoted: Rotherham (champions), Gillingham, Chesterfield, Bradford

Relegated: Burton, Morecambe

Team to watch: Barnet

Barnet are the club that refuses to die, having survived on the final day of the season for the past three years. Martin Allen and his pet pooch have relocated to Gillingham. New manager Mark Robson is an exceptional young coach, with great contacts at youth level in the Premier League. He plays the game the right way. Not a promotion season, but they will be on the fringe of the play-offs. That’s progress.

Related articles:

Mike Calvin: Has Rodwell made a mistake signing for Man City?

Video: Decent signing prompt Van Persie to “consider staying”

Video: Fleetwood and Rotherham tipped for League Twwo promotion

Video: Mido, Murphy and Vardy – hit or miss?

Video: “Rotherham United are a progressive, ambitious club”

Video: “Westley poured petrol on the flames” at troubled Preston

Follow Mike Calvin on Twitter @CalvinBook

Follow Life’s A Pitch on Twitter @BTLifesaPitch

Watch live football on BT Vision:
Cardiff v Huddersfield, 7.30pm, 17 August, Sky Sports 1
Leeds v Wolves, 12.30pm, 18 August, Sky Sports 2
Newcastle v Tottenham, 4.30pm, 18 August, ESPN
Wigan v Chelsea, 1pm, 19 August, Sky Sports, Sky Sports 1
Man City v Southampton, 3.30pm, 19 August, Sky Sports 1
Everton v Man Utd, 7pm, 20 August, Sky Sports 1

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Comments

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Baggie

mike calvin is definitely no expert and predicts West Brom’s downfall every season and we always prove him wrong. You only have to look at his record and his choices now to see the bloke has not got a clue. Retire you old fool.
http://www.facebook.com/mortenfriis Morten Friis

Move United to second place, and that top four seems far more likely (possibly swap Arsenal for Liverpool?). It’ll be close between the two Manchester clubs again this season, with Chelsea as a fairly close third. Every other team will be a distant 20 points or more off.
tobyhutton123

Always have been and always will be wrong!
Deicmeister

Joker ! Man U 4th.Does he know anything about football ?
lagodeluna

Go on, Mike, indulge us and tell us what you predicted last season…
Baggie Boy

West Brom to go down? what a joker this man is!! Does he really know anything about football !! Plus Man Utd 4th !!!! i don’t think so.
Mark Turner

Crystal Palace to get relegated, West Ham to get relegated, Man Utd 4th. Sounds like a jealous Millwall fan. @CalvinBook you really are a joke to football journalism. You should do the decent thing and quit. What a joke
peedoff Jim

Fulham the seasonal big drop canditate, to get it together this season, and spring a few surprises.
SorryMike

Give Mr Calvin a break. Although you may not agree with him, you would do well to show a bit more respect. He may not be the best journalist, but at least Calvin has presented his thoughts with a bit of reasoning behind them. Most of the comments here are simply critical and ridiculing. They’re not constructive, not nice and not needed
GBK16

Only thing im surprised about in this article is that as a Millwall fan, you didnt put yourself for promotion..suppose thats one realistic thing in the article

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